This is also called abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. In this procedure excess skin and fat can be removed, abdominal contours and scars improved, and the muscles tightened. Different combinations are combined in the various procedures.

All treatments include a full consultation and after care advice to help you achieve the best results from the treatments offered.

Overview

What Is a Standard Abdominoplasty?

The excess skin and fat of the abdominal wall between the pubic area and the umbilicus (navel) is removed. The skin at the level of the umbilicus is then drawn down to suture it at the pubic level. The umbilicus which is cored and left attached to the abdominal wall is given a new place in the upper skin flap. The patient is left with a long, usually curved scar across the lower part of the abdominal wall at the level of the pubic hair, which gets covered in underclothes or bikini. Any looseness of the muscles of the abdominal wall or hernia is repaired at the same time.

Liposuction of the upper abdomen may be carried out during this procedure to thin it needs to be conservative or as a separate procedure either before or after the abdominoplasty.

What Is a Mini-Abdominoplasty?

In the mini-abdominoplasty surplus skin below the umbilicus is removed leaving a low abdominal scar at the level of the pubic hair. The umbilicus is not disturbed but liposuction is usually carried out at the same time as the procedure to reduce the thickness of fat in the abdominal wall and any laxity or hernia of the abdominal wall is repaired at the same time.

What Is an Extended Abdominoplasty?

In the extended abdominoplasty surplus skin and fat of the loins and back are also removed so that the scar extends around the flanks onto the lower back.

What Is an Apronectomy?

The apronectomy is a modification of the mini-abdominoplasty for patients who have a large excess of skin and fat hanging down over the pubic area. In this procedure only the surplus skin and fat is removed. The scar is long and transverse extending from one side of the apron to the other.

Modifications of abdominoplasty skin excisions are made when the patient has particular problems associated with scars from previous operations.

An alternative procedure which should always be considered instead of many of the above is liposuction on its own. This reduces fat and causes considerable retraction of the skin if done in stages.

Who Is A Candidate?

Anyone who has excess fat and loose abdominal skin may be a candidate. With women the problem is usually caused by pregnancy, but is greatly exaggerated by weight loss. The muscles of the abdominal wall may be weakened by pregnancy and actually pulled apart in the middle (Divarification of Recti). Men are similarly affected by weight loss. Stretch marks (Striae) are simply the scars which are left after extreme stretching of the skin. They are usually most apparent on the lower parts of the abdominal wall. There is no specific treatment for these stretch marks, but many of them are excised in an abdominal reduction and those that are left are tightened making them look less obvious.

Patients that are unable to tighten the abdominal wall skin with exercise or wish to achieve a smoother, flatter abdomen will also benefit.

More Information

What Would You Need To Do Before The Operation?If you are overweight you would be well advised to diet as best results are obtained in people who are the correct weight for their height. If you are taking the contraceptive pill you should stop doing so for six weeks before surgery and use an alternative method in order to reduce the risk of thrombosis. If you smoke there is a greater risk of chest infection and in particular healing of the abdominal wound is may not be so good.

What Should You Expect At The Time Of The Operation?You will need to be in hospital for one to three days. When you wake up from your operation it is likely that you will be having a transfusion of saline solution. This is quite normal and is to provide you with fluid you need while you are not drinking. You are likely to have drainage tubes coming out of each side of your lower abdomen which are there to drain any collection of blood or serum. You can expect some moderately severe pain for which you will be given pain killing tablets or injections. You will be asked to keep your knees and hips bent to take the strain off your stitches.

How Long Will It Take For Recovery?Over activity in the early days reduces healing and increases fluid accumulation. Light activities are comfortable in 10 to 20 days. Sports will not be possible for about 6 weeks particularly when the muscles have been strengthened with sutures. A corset is usually helpful to reduce swelling and improve comfort in the first month.

Risks and Limitations

What Are The Consequences?The patient is left with noticeable scars. The main scar runs transversely across the lower part of the abdomen and in a standard abdominal reduction there will be a scar around the umbilicus. Other or different scars may be left where the patient has particular problems. Some patients make better scars than others and in any case all the scars are red initially. It is essential that the patient understands where these scars will be and should discuss them with the surgeon. Although we try and hide them beneath underwear and swim wear fashions can change making previously covered scars visible.
There is numbness in the lower part of the abdominal wall after surgery. This is usually temporary but could be permanent. Swelling above the scar is usually present due to a collection of tissue fluid which normally drains to the groin. This swelling or oedema settles within a few months.

What Are The Limitations?The skin is usually tightened downwards and this does not tighten the waist. If this is desired then one can consider removing skin vertically, but one should bear in mind that vertical scars of the abdomen are less good.
The tissue of the abdominal wall is generally fatter than the groin and if liposuction is not carried out a fatty bulge may remain over the scar.
The beneficial effects of the operation will last well. However, the effects will be maintained better if the patient keeps exercising the muscles and keeps the weight steady. A further pregnancy will of course stretch the skin again, although probably not to the same degree.

What Are The Risks?The standard abdominoplasty is a major operative procedure requiring two to four days' hospitalisation. Drains are removed when they stop draining blood and serum a few days after the procedure. This fluid can re-accumulate after drains are removed, requiring aspiration with a needle.
Healing can be slow, particularly in the tighter central part of the wound and sometimes dressings are needed for a few weeks. This is more common in patients who are overweight and who smoke. This tends to leave more obvious scars which are tethered - this can be revised.
Secondary procedures are sometimes carried out to tidy up the results and will involve scar revision and limited liposuction. Displacement of the umbilicus to one side has been over publicised and is rare.

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus are rare complications of any operation including this one.

Care & Aftercare

ARNICA tablets will reduce swelling. They may be bought from BOOTS or HOLLAND & BARRETT. These should be started a few days before surgery and continued for several days afterwards.

The stitches or staples you have need removing. Occasionally a small piece of stitch may remain and needs removing later on.

You must keep your dressing as dry as possible until your follow up appointment.
Swelling and bruising may be severe.

Immediately after surgery there will be occasionally dramatic swelling, which means you may be alarmed that your abdomen still appears large. Seroma will have been discussed preoperatively and may require drainage in out-patients. If you feel fluid is collecting or extreme swelling, please contact the surgeon. Swelling will decrease over the next 6 - 12 months.

Please bear in mind that we will endeavor to give you the abdominal reduction you desire, but it may be that to obtain the desired reduction in size, this may compromise wound healing as well as shape of the abdomen. This will have been discussed with you at your initial consultation and in your pre operative discussion on the day of surgery. The operation we have performed is to ensure a SAFE and NATURAL result.

Scarring is always an issue and hopefully your scarring will be reasonable. If scarring is an issue we will advise you to correct this with scar reducing creams, silicone gels and silicone sheet applications as well as with lasers. We have IPL VL as well as CO2 Fractional lasers with us and our experience over last 10 years has shown that all freshly formed scars if exposed to IPL VL periodically every three weeks become finer and merge nicely with surrounding skin. Any corrective surgery if required will only be undertaken when post operative swelling settles which may be after 9 - 12 months.

At your follow up appointment you will be given further advice regarding scar massage.